BELLA VISTA, Ark. — A veterinarian from the Bella Vista Animal Hospital hopes to help carry on the legacy of Joplin Officer Jake Reed who lost his life, alongside Cpl. Ben Cooper, while serving his community on March 8, 2022.
Dr. Julia Gillespie paid for and donated a brand-new ballistic armor vest to a local police K-9, Niko, in honor of Reed who was a Bentonville native.
Niko, a Belgian Malinois, has been working with K-9 Officer Nick Collins since the fall of 2022. Niko is trained in narcotics detection, trailing, article searches, and suspect apprehension.
"For Niko being the newest dog for Bella Vista, he did not have a ballistic vest," Officer Collins said. "Dr. Gillespie, who is a veterinarian at the Bella Vista Animal Hospital, just stepped up to the plate and said, 'I'll buy you one.'"
Collins said Dr. Gillespie wanted to purchase a vest for Niko in Officer Reed's memory.
The ballistic vest is inscribed with Officer Reed's name, badge number 270, and end-of-watch date of March 11, 2022. Although the events occurred on March 8, Reed's end-of-watch date is on March 11 because it was the day his family said goodbye and decided to donate his organs, which later saved four lives.
His family said Reed always dreamed of becoming a K-9 officer and was in the process of making that a reality when he was killed.
"Jake did want to be a K-9 handler and that hits home to us because being a police officer is something that most people in this world just don't want to do for many reasons," Collins said. "In the police officer world, K-9 handlers are a very small percentage ... and we're very lucky and blessed. It's almost like it's another brotherhood within the brotherhood."
In a Facebook post, the police department thanked Dr. Gillespie for her donation on behalf of Reed's family.
"K-9 Niko and his handler are deeply honored to continue Officer Reed's legacy by proudly carrying his memory and badge number with them as they serve the City of Bella Vista," the department said.
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